Several factors are considered when evaluating information in policy reports. For instance, policymakers must interpret the consequence of the information by fully explaining the results based on their assessment of the content of the policy report. Policymakers attempt to understand how the policy was conceived and the involved implementation costs including the issues that needed to be handled (Jordan & Turnpenny, 2015). In interpreting the information, policymakers also consider the sensitivity of the results to other changes, the meaning of the results based on the issue being addressed, and the feasibility of the results based on the available data, missing data and the limitation of the selected method (Kraft & Furlong, 2013). It is also vital to consider the integrity of the information in the policy report to ensure that it comes from reliable and credible sources. Another factor is the implication of the information in which policymakers consider the impact of the policy goals based on the concerned interest groups (Jordan & Turnpenny, 2015). Policies are generally focused on avoiding adverse effects that have been identified. Most policies, nevertheless, emerge in a complex environment involving numerous actors. Policymakers must consider the unintended outcomes or the side effects of the policy results to reduce the possibility that a given policy will have unintended outcomes.
Analysts must understand when to develop policy memorandums versus executive summaries during the policy-making process because the two documents focus on a different audience and are vital for decision-makers. For instance, a policy memo focuses on readers with limited understanding of the concerned topic and those without time to investigate the topic. The document offers a research-based analysis of the concerned issue and explains specific recommendations and the involved action items (Pennock, 2011). The executive summary, on the other hand, focuses on a busy audience by highlighting the issue and recommendations without extensive explanations (Pennock, 2011). The document only summarizes the key points to direct future discussions.
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References
Jordan, A., & Turnpenny, J. R. (2015). The Tools of Policy Formulation : Actors, Capacities, Venues and Effects . Edward Elgar Publishing.
Kraft, M. E., & Furlong, S. R. (2013). Public Policy : Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives . Sage.
Pennock, A. (2011). The Case for Using Policy Writing in Undergraduate Political Science Courses. PS: Political Science & Politics , 44 (01), 141–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049096510002040
